Lumbini, Nepal
Nepali
Sanitation workers are at the forefront of climate change working in increasingly challenging conditions, often without protection.
The film was used to document the final performance of 12 sanitation workers in Nepal. The sanitation workers had attended a series of participatory arts workshops as within an international, interdisciplinary research programme 'Towards Brown Gold' that explored shit, wastewater and marginality in five rapidly developing off-grid towns. The performance and film sought to raise awareness of issues affecting sanitation workers, some of the most precarious workers in the world.
This is a performance by twelve sanitation workers in Nepal supported by UK artist Alice Fox and Nepali arts-activist Ashmina Ranjit. The performance was just one element of an international, interdisciplinary research programme on sustainable sanitation, wastewater and marginality. The film documents the performers as they travel to the Women of the World festival held in Lumbini Peace Park Nepal in 2022. Can the performance enhance dignity and respect for the local sanitation workforce? support arts-based forms of knowledge making? surface issues of caste and untouchability? or push sanitation worker rights up the agenda?
The film gave apparent value and status to the project (from the perspective of these sanitation workers). If we had more time and contacts (which we do now) we would co-produce the film as well as the performance with a local film maker. The film has been a useful teaching tool to commence discussions around sanitation, untouchability and womens labour in conjunction with other more didactic resources.